All eyes are opening to the rights of man. The general spread of the
light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth,
that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs,
nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately,
by the grace of God.
* * * * *
Societies exist under three forms, sufficiently distinguishable: (1)
Without government, as among our Indians. (2) Under governments wherein
the will of every one has a just influence; as is the case in England,
in a slight degree, and in our States, in a great one. (3) Under
governments of force; as is the case in all other monarchies, and in
most of the other republics. To have an idea of the curse of existence
under these last, they must be seen. It is a government of wolves over
sheep. It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that the first condition
is not the best. But I believe it to be inconsistent with any great
degree of population. The second state has a great deal of good in it.
The mass of mankind under that, enjoys a precious degree of liberty and
happiness. It has its evils, too; the principal of which is the
turbulence to which it is subject. But weight this against the
oppressions of monarchy, and it becomes nothing. Even this evil is
productive of good. It prevents the degeneracy of governments, and
nourishes a general attention to the public affairs. I hold it, that a
little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the
political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions,
indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the
people, which have produced them. An observation of this truth should
render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of
rebellions, as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine
necessary for the sound health of governments.
* * * * *
We have long enough suffered under the base prostitution of law to party
passions in one judge, and the imbecility of another.
* * * * *
It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand
by itself.